The Fall began in the land of Hyrule. Slowly, one by one, subtle things began to change. The sun hung lower in the sky, the birds and other wildlife began to collect food, and almost unnoticeable; the weather began to shift. Nights became colder and storms swept the lands. Though the trees were stained in dark greens and browns, the grass and plants were lush and full of life. Link has been on his journey for the past few weeks now. Hardly taking the time to revisit Kakariko Village, despite his fondness for it. He has calmed and taken back control of the last 2 Divine Beasts and was on his way back before retrieving the blade that was tied to his fate: the Master Sword.

"Link..." A voice resonating from the darkness called out. "Link, you are the light- our light"
The voice was stern, yet gentle. Beckoning from a place that couldn't be reached, as if it was in the back of the mind. "Calamity Ganon will continue to defile our lands. Only you can stop him. Save me, Link. Save all of us!"

Light returned to Link as he shot up from his bed. Tonight, he slept under the stars, within a crevice of the roots of a lonely apple tree standing proud in the centre of a farmer's paddock.
He has been pushing himself hard, sleepless nights and hard days were considered normal by the Hero of the Wild. But tonight, he laid troubled... he believed sleeping these feelings off would help, but alas they were congregating… more so than ever before. The tired hero sat upright and rested his back on the tree. He laid his head on the bark, swollen from the rain of the storms they have been having recently. He stared up into the stars as his turmoil ate him up inside. His worry silently festering as he could see the once great Hyrule Castle int the distance, and the thick crimson smoke of Calamity Ganon as he circled the lands.

Paya was also lying awake, writing little notes into her journal as she locked her feet behind her back. Dreamily she recounted the moment for the dozenth time how she was able to hold hands with the man she respected so dearly. She pulled that hand closer, under her chest as if to feel the warmth of her body.
'My heart was pounding so hard, I don't quite understand why, or what these feelings could mean.' She writes dreamily. She has been concerned with Link over the past while, his actions has become cold and distant. She noticed how he is the quiet type, though he would never tell her of course. He preferred to sit in silence as he worked through his problems. Regardless, she couldn't help but to find it admirable. Paya had begun to think of his direct relation with the Princess Zelda. Their fates are intertwined after all...

'I wonder if Master Link is in love with Princess Zelda... If so, I think they suit each other quite splendidly. If they became a couple, I'd give that pairing my full support. Though just the thought of that makes my heart hurt... I wonder if I'm coming down with something. I'll ask Grandmother for some medicine tomorrow.'
Thoughts like this made her feel anxious. She did not understand the feelings she was having because of her sheltered upbringing. She closed her diary with a sombre expression on her face and a heavy heart and turned over to sleep for the evening.
"Oh, master Link. I pray that you're safe." She holds out the hand in front of her that he held all those days ago.

The next morning Paya awoke, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and beginning her typical routine of fixing her futon, packing her journal away and opening the shutteres of her window. She dressed the same as always. Dawning a white robe with red trims. She spent some time tiding her hair into its usual look. With a quick sigh to pump herself up, she stood and walked downstairs to see her grandmother in the same place as always.

"Grandmother, may we talk?" She asked. Sitting onto the floor delicately and respectfully.
"Paya, what is troubling you? You typically don't talk about your troubles." Impa identified that something was wrong through only four of Payas words, she sat stunned and nervous, to talk about her current feelings.
"Grandmother, lately my stomach has been in knots, and I don't think I know why." Paya pleaded for any answer she can get.
"Hmm? Have you been eating well? Spending enough time outside?" Impa asked. "Hmm, perhaps it is the change of seasons that ails you?" Impa was deep in thought.
"Is there nothing I can do about this grandmother? If we have some medicine, it might settle it."
Impa thought for a moment...
"Tell me what you believe the problem may be, it may just be simpler to fix than we believe."

Paya rubs her hands together and begins to talk "Well... it's been since the night the Heirloom was taken from us, although it's fulfilled its purpose of helping Link on his quest, I feel so... empty."
Impa scratched her chin in contemplation "Why do you feel empty exactly?"
"W-well, it's not all the time... Just when-"

Suddenly the door to the Chiefs Quarters opened, Link stood in the doorway with light from outside tracing his figure. Paya once again felt her stomach drop and stepped back so Impa could consult with him.
Link was being his typical self, smiling softly as Impa began to talk with him.

"So, another beast has been quelled, I believe by now this would make all four!" she said excitedly as her old body would allow. "Now, all that's left to do is retrieve the Blade of Legend, defeat Ganon and save the Princess, and all of Hyrule."
Once again link looked worried about the road to come but was eager to fulfil his destiny. He nodded passionately and thanked Impa for her guidance. He felt safe here, though he would never say it, he hadn't felt at home in a long time... now he doesn't have one. He turned and left the room to do his typical supply run and rest at the inn to recuperate before setting out again.

Impa noticed how suddenly quiet and shy Paya had become, which wasn't too out of character. But she seemed so apprehensive to say or do anything except stand and stare.
"My dear, I don't believe you need medicine." Impa laughed, noticing how, perhaps, Link himself was the problem.
Paya was apprehensive. not knowing why her grandmother wouldn't allow her to take medication for what was ailing her. But she nodded in agreement and began her duties.
She went outside and consulted with the guards, Cado and Dorian, about whether they believe she should take any medicine. She got a similar response, they just stood and grinned. Telling her that it would be unnecessary. She was confused but decided to just leave it be for now.

Later that same day, Paya was stuck with her duties as a caretaker of the shrine. She was scrubbing the deck of the lodge. The work was strenuous, but she enjoyed having some time to herself to sit and think. Her thoughts wandered between this and that, what she may prepare for dinner, how she is excited for friends and family from neighbouring villages to come and visit again... Perhaps when Link's journey is completed things like that may become commonplace. Speaking of whom, the young Hylian stood halfway up the stairs, turning to his side, and allowing his back to lazily slide down the balustrade. He sat there with his legs, lounging across several of the steps. He smiled at Paya in greeting and invited her to come sit with him.

The shy girl giggled to herself and brushed her long hair back over her shoulder. "Master Link, it's good to see you" She smiled back as she made her way over to him. "Have you prepared for the road ahead?" She asked him as she positioned herself on the step he sat on. Sitting with her legs closed together and her hands resting in her lap.
Link nods "The four sacred Beasts have been saved, now the next step is to retrieve the Master Sword..." Link seemed determined like always, but his tone of voice showed that of hesitation...

Paya leaned forward, fixing her hair back behind her pointed ears. "Master Link, if you are troubled... I am more than happy to be one to listen."
Link sighed quietly through his nose, he was looking straight ahead to the Village, watching the people and animals, bustling in their daily lives and activities.
"I'm okay, just nervous... is all." Link stammered out, revealing a part of himself that Paya had never seen before; sensitivity, anxiety.
Link continues to speak "I'm the last hope, and with all the help of the four champions of each territory of Hyrule, Princess Zelda, the Master Sword and every other person I met on the way... I know we stand a chance... But I just don't want to lose this... I don't want to forget this again." He said sombrely. "It is said I bare the Triforce of Courage... and yet, I hesitate."

Links emotions were out on his sleeve for the whole world to see... But instead, Paya was the only one he trusted, the only one he told. Paya blushed as he looked back into her eyes. She shyly looked away and took a breath. She shifted her hands, locking her fingers and pulling them into her waist. "I think it is only natural that you feel this way. You've come far and you want to make everyone proud... I feel the same way..." She looks up to the village, just as link was as links gaze was fixated on everything she was saying.

"Every day I pray to the guardian deities that protect this village... I don't want anyone to ever feel unsafe here. Everyone does so much for me. However, I feel as if I have a long way to go before, I prove my worth." She looks back into Links eyes. "Promise me that you will come and visit, even after the calamity is over?" She asked him. Link nodded. Link retrieved the tablet from his belt, his Sheikah Slate. He turned the camera function on and flipped it to the self-portrait mode.

"Master... Link, what are you doing?" Paya asked.
"So I don't forget..." Link answered her as he smiled brightly into the lens of the camera"
Paya didn't know how this worked, she could see her face, just as if it were a mirror... But she followed Link's lead and smiled with him, leaning in so she was in the photo. Her symbol on her foreheads colour, perfectly matching the blush of her cheeks. Link took the picture. They were happy, Link finally found the place that he wanted to be.

Another cold night set in one the lonely Village. The chilled wind would cut you to the bone. Link had left for the master sword hours ago. He was aware of its location, slumbering in the middle of the Korok Forrest. The residence of the Village had all but turned in, except Paya, who was normally out praying by the shrines for her hometown's safety, and that of Link.
"Hm?" a soft but frequent rumble was heard in the distance. Paya looked up to the south side of the village and strange reddish-pink lights spewing through the narrow valley. the rumbling got louder, and the sounds... More metallic?

It was a guardian! A long tendril like leg rounded the corner, followed by several others, and a large stone body. Red highlights were pulsating through its core body as a small blue eye-like circle on the front of its head took aim at Paya. She shrieked and ran quickly as a powerful laser pierced the ground. Creating a huge explosion that ripped the ground and the Guardian statues from their resting place. The rest of the townsfolk began to run out of their houses in a panic. Grabbing the attention of the guardian as it ripped through town in an attempt to cause as much damage as it could.

Paya ran back home, slipping past the guardian as the guards began to do battle on the large structure-like creature. They smashed it with their blades and bows and arrows, but nothing seemed to be working and people were getting hurt. Paya checked on her grandmother and instructed for the guards to carry her to safety and evacuate the town. They grabbed Impa and took off out the door of the building. The guardian was beginning to show signs of slowing down, but the guards were expended and laying on the floor, inured and weak. the guardian was scanning for any more hostile threats.

The door slammed behind Paya, and the guardian snapped its head around to stare at the girl. Charging up its laser to destroy her and the house in which she grew up in. Paya based herself, awaiting the end. She considered all the good she had done for everyone, how much everyone gave to her and wondered if she had lived a life she was proud of.
Her emotions flared in assurance, she was. However, one regret still lingered on her mind. She saw a vivid image of the hero she admired in her head. Overflowing with kindness and compassion he turned and looked at her. In her mind she was so far away from him, but no matter how hard she ran he would always be just out of reach... no, she didn't understand how she felt... but could this be... love?

With an almost sickening crack, the guardians' eye shattered as an arrow pierced it. a perfect shot that caused the guardian to retract and stop its beam from firing. Link stood valiantly above the town, filling the guards, and of course Paya with a sense of security. But the fight was not over. Link jumped from the peak of the hill and unsheathed his blade. It was shining in the moonlight, as it pulled from the safety of its scabbard. Link reeled back and plunged the sword into the body of the guardian. its stone figure cracking and crumbling under the might of the legendary sword.
"HNGH!" Link called out as a tendril of the guardian swatted him from its body, wrapping its metallic claws around the Hylian Knight, and slamming him into the dirt. The guardian crackled and it fell limp, shifting its tendril leg off of Links body. Link clutched his side as its leg slid off of him.

"Master Link? MASTER LINK!" Paya screamed in horror as she ran to his side to examine and dress his wounds. She crouched by his side, as did some of the other guards that stayed back and helped repel the guardian. "Master... Link?" Paya cried as she waited for an answer. Link looked up, and slowly drifted his vision to meet Payas. He softly smiled, that same smile he did whenever he talked with her. He reached up from clutching his side, to rub her cheek.

"Master Link, I-" she cried

"It's alright, even a 'hero' gets knocked down sometimes" he smiled, his eyes so deep she found herself lost in them. "I'm okay..." he sat up strenuously. "I just... need..." Links eyes crossed and rolled back as his eyes were forced shut. He fell to the floor, alive, but unconscious. "G-Get him to a bed, mine is closest! I will bring all the dressings that I can!" she demanded. "Please fetch me some water and as many clean blankets as you can!" she followed the guards up the stairs into her room as they laid him down to rest.

"…"
"Link..."
"Link, you are the light- our light"
"The Sacred beasts are free, the Sacred Sword is within your grasp, and Gannon's power is dwindling… Now is the time to strike."
"But... Please... Be careful" The voice faded away. Ripped from the Hylian's consciousness… Left with only darkness.

Lost in the quiet, Link opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling of some room. He didn't know where he was... disoriented, he only noticed the immediate things... he felt warm, he felt safe, although his body ached. But strangely, he felt a weight on his hand.
Looking over he saw the head of a particular white-haired girl, resting in the bed, both hands wrapping his as she slept peacefully. Link rubbed his face and sat up, pushing through the pain. He scanned the room. It was Payas, though there were more flowers in here than normal... a lot more. There must be hundreds of flowers strewn about the room.

"Mmm?" a soft voice broke the silence "Master... Link..." the voice was coming from Paya, herself.
"I will... never leave... your side" she was sleep talking. Her grip tightened around his hand. He felt the warmth of the girl he had been spending his time with. He never felt this warmth and tenderness from someone before. He smiled again, gripping her hand tighter.

"Ah, your awake" an old woman stood at the door. It was Impa, her legs were weak, and she was holding the door frame for support. "Paya would be so relieved. She stayed here for days as you recovered, she dressed your wounds herself and changed your towels and bandages as often as time would allow." Link looked down and noticed he was wrapped in an assortment of cloths and bandages. His wounds did not seem to be bleeding anymore.

"Please don't wake her, she needs her rest. She has been worried sick for days and refused to eat... I worry she's going to end up needing care fore herself." Impa staggered over and lays a blanket on the sweet girls back. Impa nods and leaves the room wishing the hero a brisk recovery. Link nodded and decided to get some more sleep.